New England area vacation - trail/destination suggestions?

The wife and I are considering a vacation in the New England area later this year (possibly August or September). One possible stay is in Portland, Maine. Trying to get ideas for "beginner-friendly" level trails in and around that area where we could rent bikes and pedal around a bit.

I'm a Midwest (Kansas City) area intermediate level rider, but she's a roadie so doesn't like dealing with too much gnar.

I would LOVE to go to the Kingdom trails, but not sure about other tourism ideas for that particular area so don't know if she'd want to go there.

Any recommendations for trails and/or tourism destinations in the New England area that time of year? We're flying out and would definitely have to rent bikes.

I don't ride in Portland much but 2 hours away is Carrabassett Valley, which is awesome. Yes, it's riding at a ski resort (Sugarloaf), but the trails are NOT on the mountain. I have 2 daughters under 10 and we ride there quite a bit. Plenty of fun flowy trails along the river with plenty of spots to stop and cool off. There is a small shop at the Outdoor Center that has some hardtails you can rent. There is something to ride for every ability there so don't worry about too much gnar or being too mellow.

There are a few different spots with a half hour of Portland to ride. I'm sure you'll be heading to Freeport at some point. Check out Bradbury state park. It's about 15 minutes from the village center of Freeport and there is some great riding there too.

Other than that, head in to Allspeed in Portland. They have some SC demo's to rent and will know the best areas to hit within Portland. But if you can make it to Carrabassett, definitely go. You'll love it.

North Conway, New Hampshire is another destination to consider for a New England vacation. In the heart of the white mountains. Lots of epic road riding for your roadie wife (with climbs like she'll never experience in the Midwest). Great hikes, beautiful mountain views, tax-free outlet shopping, lots of quaint tourist shops and bed and breakfasts. Lots to do not on the bike. And of course, great mountain biking (with climbs like you'll never experience in the Midwest, but also descents!). For beginnerish-friendly trails in the area, the East Side Trails start right from town, have good flow (for New England), are pretty well mapped/signed, and run through an abandoned quarry, so there's lots of cool stuff to see/explore. North Conway's East Side Trails | NEMBA

Portland is a little more "city" than "quintessential New England" (though it is a quintessential New England city).. If you want to be on the coast, try Rockport, MA Portsmouth, NH or Bar Harbor, ME. All of those will have mountain biking within a half hour drive or so, but nothing epic.

The Camden Maine trails are lovely and mostly intermediate. If you're happy to spin uphill, they are beginner friendly from a technical standpoint and are certainly quintessentially NE, as is the surrounding area.

Try posting up in the VT/NH/ME forums, get a lot more local traffic. Everything you've been told is spot on.

KT is obviously the big one in the region, and there is plenty of good road riding and other stuff to do for people from the midwest up there. You could easily fill a few days between riding and site seeing, hiking, etc. MOJO gives a good itinerary.

I love Portland, my absolute favorite city. I wouldn't travel from KC to ride there, but the food scene, beer, and scenery is worth it. Get the feel of Boston without the stress. Plus it is cooler.

North Conway is a great NE mountain town and the riding is superb, the wife again could find plenty between hiking, shopping, road riding, etc.

North Conway, New Hampshire is another destination to consider for a New England vacation. In the heart of the white mountains. Lots of epic road riding for your roadie wife (with climbs like she'll never experience in the Midwest). Great hikes, beautiful mountain views, tax-free outlet shopping, lots of quaint tourist shops and bed and breakfasts. Lots to do not on the bike. And of course, great mountain biking (with climbs like you'll never experience in the Midwest, but also descents!). For beginnerish-friendly trails in the area, the East Side Trails start right from town, have good flow (for New England), are pretty well mapped/signed, and run through an abandoned quarry, so there's lots of cool stuff to see/explore. North Conway's East Side Trails | NEMBA

Portland is a little more "city" than "quintessential New England" (though it is a quintessential New England city).. If you want to be on the coast, try Rockport, MA Portsmouth, NH or Bar Harbor, ME. All of those will have mountain biking within a half hour drive or so, but nothing epic.

North Conway sounds very interesting. Have to check it out. One issue will be renting bikes and hauling them with a rental vehicle. Never had to do that before so not sure what our options are in that's regard.

Also going to a game at Fenway that week and will have a full day in Boston so trying to figure out ideas for entertaining ourselves that day.

Where are you fling into and out of in New England? Western Massachusetts has fantastic riding and much to visit. Check out Northampton and the Berkshires.

Like others have said, Kingdom Trails is a must. And fall in the NEK is spectacular.

Flying into & out of Boston (for $$$ considerations). Renting a car and driving up the coast toward Portland for sure... rest of itinerary is still a work in progress. Don't think we'll have the time or desire to drive all the way to Kingdom Trails (although I would LOVE to go there). My wife is not big into MTB'ing, but humors my passion and clumsy attempts to ride "real" trails.